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THE HARPER'S FERRY AFFAIR.

Boston, Massachusetts, Daily Evening Transcript [Republican]

(24 October 1859)

A Gentleman from New Hampshire, who has been on a tour through the western and central parts of the Union, was in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, during the late difficulties, and was a witness to the closing scenes of that affair. According to his representations, the panic Mr. Brown with his handful of deluded followers created in Maryland and Virginia was not at all creditable to the people or authorities of the vicinity. They showed the "white feather" in a manner to plainly reveal the inherent weakness of society where slavery is tolerated and free labor regarded as degrading. The fact almost exceeds belief, that seventeen white men and five blacks -- only twenty-two persons in all -- should not only be able to take possession of the Armory of the United States, but retain it for hours, and not be driven therefrom until the arrival of the military from abroad. The gentleman above named expresses the opinion that five resolute men could have dislodged "the revolutionists" in five minutes. But terror seems to have seized upon all classes of persons in the immediate vicinity, and the population behaved as madly and wildly as the residents of the interior of New England, where a great fire does not occur more than once in half a century, do, when a large conflagration occurs. To use the word "chivalry" in connection with such cowardice as the Virginians displayed, is to be guilty of the severest sarcasm. The compliments Gov. Wise lavished upon the citizens of Harper's Ferry when he ascertained the true state of the case, savored rather of strength than of righteousness. Well may the Baltimore American say:

Gathering all the facts and rumors concerning the late affair at Harper's Ferry together, it is difficult to decide whether it should be called a ludicrous tragedy or a solemn farce.

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